Kabul Express to premiere at Toronto film fest in Sept

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Friday, July 28, 2006 Mumbai (UNI): Yashraj films' latest venture Kabul Express, which has been selected for world premiere at the 31st Toronto international film festival, has been described by the selectors as an ''important breakthrough for Indian cinema.'' The film festival will be held from September 7 to 16.

Kabul Express will have a world premiere at the prestigious red-carpet special presentation meant for ''artistic and daring cinema from around the world.'' The film is written and directed by well-known documentary film director Kabir Khan.

Having shot films in over 50 countries, Kabir's first feature film is an intriguing topical story set in the post 9/11 war-torn Kabul, in Afghanistan.

Kabir told reporters, ''Comprising a large international cast, all actors have been roped in according to the nationality of the characters. Kabul Express brings together John Abraham and Arshad Warsi as TV journalists, who go to Kabul in search of the ultimate news coup - meeting the Taliban. The film also stars Salman Shahid from Pakistan, Hanif Hum Ghum from Afghanistan and Linda Arsenio from the US.'' Produced by Aditya Chopra of Yashraj Films, Kabul Express has been shot over a two-month schedule in Afghanistan.

Kabir said this is the first international feature film to have been entirely shot in post-Taliban Afghanistan. Based on his own experiences as a documentary filmmaker, he said he was convinced that the movie could be shot only in Afghanistan.

''The country is not just a location for filming, it is a character in the film,'' he added.

Kabir said the making of this film was a very unique experience because there are things that can only happen in Afghanistan, no where else. ''It takes six letters from three different ministries to get a visa and only one phone call to organise 30 Kalashnikovs and two rocket launchers. You can take the keys to a tank or a chopper and fly pretty much anywhere but you cannot get a woman to show her face on camera,'' he quipped.

He also said it is an honour for Kabul Express to be a part of the Toronto international film festival, and a proud moment for Indian cinema.